Flotation device



Dec. 26, 1961 L. F. MUTER 3,014,227

FLOTATION DEVICE Filed April 27, 1955 United States Patent Q 3,014,227 FLOTATIGN DEVICE Leslie F. Muter, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Mnter Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 27, 1955, Ser. No. 504,181 1 Claim. (Cl. 9-316) This invention relates to flotation devices, and more particularly to flotation devices to be used as life preservers.

With the increasing interest and participation in water sports, there is a corresponding increase in the need for life preservers to protect the lives of the persons involved. A life preserver, to meet the needs of a person participating in water sports, must be small in size so as not to interfere with the physical movements of the person so engaged. The device must also be of inexpensive manufacture in order to be commercially accepted and used by the participating public.

The life preserver herein contemplates a life preserver to be stored and carried in deflated condition, and to be inflated when it is needed. In deflated condition the device may be compactly folded and conveniently stored or affixed to the clothing of the operator. It is contemplated that the device be of the throw away type after it has been once inflated, and because of this factor the device must be of inexpensive manufacture. The device is preferably made of inexpensive sheet plastic and uses readily available carbon dioxide cartridges.

it is absolutely essential, in devices of this type, that the device will operate perfectly when it is needed. It is known that persons in the act of drowning because of fright or cramps tend to freeze in a given position. It is for this reason that the American Red Cross, in its instruction material relating to life saving techniques, gives instructions to life guards as to the manners in which the grip of a drowning person may be released. For this reason, it is necessary that a life preserver be made in such a manner that the device releasing the gas will be operative even though the operators hand be frozen on the release mechanism.

The device herein contemplates the provision of a life preserverhaving the advantages indicated above.

It is an object of the invention herein to provide a life preserver that is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a life preservenin deflated condition, that is compact and of small size. p

it is yet another object of the invention herein to provide a life preserver that will operate under all conditions, particularly when the hand of the operator is frozen on the release mechanism of the gas discharging mechanism.

It is another object of the invention herein to provide a gas cylinder and release mechanism therefor which cannot be held against the gas escaping from the gas cylinder.

it is yet another object of the invention to provide a life preserver that may be conveniently stored in a small place and will not deteriorate under normal atmospheric conditions.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the detailed description and drawings to follow, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the life preserver showing the invention herein as inflated for use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device in folded condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal View of the gas cartridge and release mechanism, partially in section; and

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FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal view of thetop of the gas cartridge and piercing device.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout, there is shown a life preserver 6 including Water wings 8, a gas cartridge 10, a holder 12. for the gas cartridge and an integral handle 14 therewith. The device further includes a gas pervious bag 16, an outer waterproof bag 18 and an attachment member 20. Extending through the top of the handle is a cartridge piercing member 22.

The water wings 8 are of normal shape, including a narrow central section 24 and two enlarged members 26 extending outwardly from the narrow central portion. The water wings may be formed of any suitable gas impervious material, and for the purpose of the specific embodiment herein described they are made of vinylite plastic. It will be understood that rubber, fabric impregnated with rubber, or any other suitable plastic would serve the same purpose. Shaping the life preserver in the form of water wings is desirable in that it may be readily grasped by a drowning person and is of a convenient shape to support such a person in the water, the body of the person fitting into the reduced central section 24 with the enlarged members 26 extending outwardly beyond the arms of the person supported.

The water wings are formed by folding a piece of material, appropriately cut to give the desired water wing shape, upon itself, and then sealing the superimposed peripheral edges other than along the folded edge. The seal is shown in FIG. 1 at 28.

Before the seal is applied to the superimposed open edges of the water wings, a gas cartridge member 10 and release therefor is enclosed therein.v Referring to FIG. 4, the gas cartridge 10 is of cylindrical shape with a reduced neck portion 34. Within the reduced neck portion there is a-thin diaphragm 36. The gas cartridge is held by a holder 38 including a rounded bottom portion 40 conforming to the configuration of the bottom of the gas cylinder 10. The holder extends longitudinally of the gas cartridge with prongs 42 extending around the cylinder and thereby supporting the gas cartridge in an upright position. Formed integral with the holder 38 is the handle 14. From its juncture 44 at the top of the cylinder, the handle extends transversely across the top of the cylinder, and then is curved as at 46, with the terminal portion thereof extending downwardly approximately parallel to the elongated portionof the holder 38.

Extending through the transverse portionof the handle 14 is a piercing member 22. As shown, this member may take the form of an ordinary pointed screw 48 such as, for example, a sheet metal or wood screw, threaded through an aperture 50 in the transverse portion of the handle. The piercing member is so placed that the point 52 thereof is aligned with the central portion of the diaphragm member 36. The pointed screw, of course, includes raised projections or a thread 54 helically disposed about a central body portion 56. It will be noted that the projections on the body portion are so disposed that there are substantially fiat interstices or spaces 58 on the body portion 56 of the screw between the projections or turns of the thread. The importance of the projections 54 and the interstices 58 will be described hereinafter.

The gas cartridge 10 is filled with a gas, such as carbon dioxide, under pressure. There is sufiicient gas in the cylinder so that when it is released and escapes into the water wings 8, it will completely fill the same and provide sufiicient buoyancy to support a heavy person in the Water.

The gas cartridge 14 its holder 38, and the handle 14 are enclosed within a gas pervious bag 16. This bag may be made, for example, of canvas. The bag 16 is necessary because the carbon dioxide or other gas escaping from the cartridge under excessive pressure will, through rapid expansion, tend to cool the area immediately surrounding it. In fact, the gas so escaping might freeze the plastic of the water wings 8, thereby damaging the same or creating a leak therein. For this reason, the gas cartridge 10 is surrounded by the canvas bag 16 in order that the gas will be warmed and escape slowly through the pores of the bag into the water Wings 8.

After the cartridge 10 and its holder and release mechanism are enclosed within the gas pervious bag 16, this unit is placed Within the water wings 8, and the edges are then sealed. It is impoitant that the gas cartridge be placed centrally in the water wings, as will be described hereinafter. After so placing the cartridge the enlarged portions 26 of the water wings are then folded longitudinally, forming folds 60. The outer edges 62 of the water Wings are then folded toward the center wherein the cartridge is placed, forming transverse folds 64. It will be noted, in FIG. 3, that the gas cartridge and its holder 38 are against the inner fold 66 of the water Wings, thereby providing a continuous flow of gas to the outer reaches of the water wings without interruption. After the diaphragm 36 is pierced, the gas first fiows through the transverse folds 64 and then through the longitudinal folds 60 until the Water wings are completely filled.

After the device has been folded as heretofore de scribed, the same is enclosed within the water tight bag 18. This bag is then sealed as at 68. Afiixed to the narrow central body portion of the water wings 24 is an attachment member 20 terminating in a clip 78. This clip may be atfixed to the bathing suit or wearing apparel of a person using the device. It is to be noted that the attachment member 20, as well as being affixed to the water wings 8, is also affixed to the top of the waterproof bag 18 as at 72. The waterproof bag serves not only to hold the water wings in folded relation until such time as they are used, but also protects the device until such time as it is called into use. In folded condition the device occupies a very small space, approximately 2 inches by 4 inches and inch thick.

Having described each of the elements, there remains to be described the manner in which the device is operated. As mentioned heretofore, the gas cartridge 10, its holder 38 and release mechanism 22 are enclosed Within the previous bag 16 which is in turn enclosed within the water wings 8. All that need be done to release the gas in the cartridge is to squeeze the handle toward the cartridge, thereby causing the handle to pivot and force the piercing member 22 to break through the diaphragm 36, thereby releasing the carbon dioxidewithin the water wings 8. Because the bag 16, the bag 18 and the water wings 8 are all made of flexible material, they offer little resistance to the movement of the handle. Referring to FIG. 5, as the gas escapes it follows the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5. It is at this time that the configuration of the interstices 58 and the projections or thread 54 come into play. It will be seen that even though the hand of the operator freezes with the handle 14 pressing towards the cartridge holder 38, while the piercing member 22 is within the punctured diaphragm, the gas will nevertheless escape through the spaces provided between the helical projections 54. Release mechanisms for gas cartridges, heretofore known, have been unsatisfactory for this purpose because they do not provide a positive means for allowing the gas to escape should the operator fail to release the handle 14.

As the gas escapes through the pores in bag 16, the bag 18 is ruptured, after which the escaping gas slowly fills the water wings 8. It has been found that even a small gas cartridge will provide sufficient buoyancy to keep a heavy person afloat for three days. Because the clip is attached to the clothing of the operator, the life preserver cannot escape and is always within reach of the operator.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

For use in a life preserver, including an inflatable membet and a gas-filled cartridge provided with a puncturable membrane within said member, a means for releasing said gas including a, holder for supporting said cartridge, a handle integrally and pivotally connected with said holder, and piercing means carried by said handle and adapted to puncture said puncturable membrane upon pivotal movement of said handle towards said cartridge, said piercing means including a pointed imperforate screw member having helical thread formations for mounting the piercing member on the handle and providing escape outlets for the gas while the piercing member is within the puncture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,474 Lavertine et a1. Nov. 28, 1905 2,120,248 Hinchman June 14, 1938 2,218,931 Carlson Oct. 22, 1940 2,442,648 Goldman June 1, 1948 2,580,639 Baker Jan. 1, 1952 2,613,849 Ward Oct. 14, 1952 

